Universal joint and coupling



Sept. 10, 1935. BRQCK 2,014,309

UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COUPLING Filed Dec. 21, 1952' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 yf WSept. 10, 1935. D. T. BROCK 2,014,309

UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COUPLING Filed Dec. 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2171062172] l Z'Br'd /K Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COUPLING Application December 21, 1932,Serial No. 648,269 In Great, Britain April 16, 1932 Claims.

This invention relates to universal joints and couplings, and it has forits primary object to provide a form and construction of universal jointwhich is very efiicient and quiet in operation, and

5 which is comparatively simple in construction.

In the known forms of universal joint, pivot pins are usually employedfor operatively connecting an intermediate member with, a driven anddriving member, and any slackness due to wear cannot be taken up exceptby the costly method of replacing the worn parts. These difficulties maybe readily overcome in the device according to the invention, by the.provision of adjustment means which may be arranged to compensate forwear automatically or otherwise.

According to the present invention there is provided a universal jointor coupling comprising a driven and a driving member, said members beingoperatively connected together through the medium of ball and socketjoints, the centres of which are displaced radially with regard to theaxes of the driving and driven members. A further feature consists inthe provision of a coupling having an intermediate member arranged forthe transmission of rotational movement from the driven member to thedriving member, the torque being transmitted to or from the intermediate member by means of ball and socket joints disposed so that theircentres are displaced from 30 the axes of rotation of the driven anddriving members. The ball and socket joints connecting operatively thedriven and driving members may conveniently be co-planar, and they maybe surrounded by an annular member which prevents spreading movement ofthe ball and socket joints when transmitting power. Such annular memberis preferably provided with means whereby its diameter may be modifiedby effecting the adjustment of the ball and socket joints. The drivenand driving members may be provided with projections which terminate inthe form of partial or complete spheres, each forming part of thecorresponding ball and socket joint, and, if desired, said spheres maybe formed separately from the projections and may be bored eccentricallyso as to provide a limited amount of adjustment according to theirangular position with regard to the pins or equivalent by which they areattached to the corresponding projections. The interme- 5 diate memberor equivalent device through which the drive is transmitted may comprisea block of material in which balls attached to the driven and drivingmembers are embedded, an outer reinforcing ring being provided ifdesired. Alternatively, the intermediate member may consist of aplurality of compression blocks disposed between adjacent balls of thedriven and. driving members, respectively, and forming an operativeconnection between said balls, the blocks convemiently being in the formof cylinders having spherically recessed ends which bear against thesurface of the balls.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a part longitudinal sectional ele- 10 vation through oneform of universal joint taken on the line II of Figure 2;

Figurev 2 is a part sectional end elevation; Figure 3 shows a modifiedform of universal joint in part sectional end elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of a further modified form;

Figures 5 and 6 show another modification, Figure 5 being .a partsection on the line 55 of Figure 6, and Figure6 being a part sectionalend elevation;

Figure '7 is a diagram illustrating a modified method of adjustment, and

Figure 8 is a part sectional end elevation of a modified form ofintermediate member.

Throughout the specification the universal joint or coupling will betreated as a unit, and that part which receives the torque will be knownas the driven member, while the part by which said torque is transferredto the load will be referred to as, the driving member.

Thus, referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a driven memberl9 and a driving member I I each consists of a collar l2 and i3,respectively, which are bored to fit a driving shaft l4 and a driven orload shaft [5, respectively. The collar I2 is formed with a pair ofcurved projections it which are shouldered at H and are screwthreaded attheir ends !8 for the accommodation of a nut I9 by which a sphere 2D isfirmly 40 held in position. The internal bore 2| of the sphere ispreferably slightly eccentric with regard to the periphery so as topermit a certain amount of adjustment to be made. The collar i3 is alsoformed with similar arms which are indicated at 22, these being arrangedto support a pair of spheres 23 by means of nuts 24 in the same manner.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the driven balls 2t andthe driving balls 23 are alternately arranged, and are maintained inspaced relationship by means of compression members 25 which take theform of cylindrical blocks provided with an axial passage 26 forretaining lubricant, and shaped at their ends so as to conform 55 to thesurfaces of the balls at and These compression blocks together form theintermediate member between the driven and driving members. Thisarrangement allows freedom of movement in two planes at right-angles sothat the device can function as the universal joint. When, however,torque is being transmitted, there is a tendency for the balls 2b and 23to be splayed outwardly, and for preventing this, an annular member 21is formed with a groove 28 of segmental cross-section into which theballs 23 and 23 are admitted by the provision of a cut-away portion 29.

The annular member may conveniently serve as a means whereby the freedomof movement of the various parts may be adjusted, and in Figure 3 saidmember comprises two semi-circular portions 30 and 3| which are heldtogether by means of bolts 32 and are adjustable within limits byvarying the thickness of shims 33. In this case, the compression blockstake the form of balls 34 which are preferably very slightly larger indiameter than the balls 20 and 23, said balls 34 being shaped withspherical recesses 35 which form bearing surfaces co-operating with theballs 20 and 23.

A simplified form of universal joint is shown in Figure 4 in which thedriven member H! is provided with a pair of laterally extending lugs 36,each of which carries a projection 31 formed upon its extremity with asphere 38. The driving member I l which, of course, is oppositelydisposed is also of similar formation, and the balls 38 are embedded inan intermediate member consisting of a block '39 which may convenientlybe composed of material, such as white metal or moulded synthetic resin,clearance spaces 40 serving to allow the necessary rocking movement ofthe projections 31. The block 39 is reinforced by means of an outer ring4|.

and 2 may be substantially simplified as shown in Figures 5 and 6, andin this case the driven member I is formed with a pair of radiallyextending pins as indicated at 42, upon which the "driven balls 20 aredisposed and are held in place by means of the annular member 21. Themember l 0 may be splined upon the shaft l4 and may, if desired, bearranged for sliding movement thereupon. The driving member H is ofsubstantially the same construction, being provided with curved arms 22which carry a pair of driving balls 23, said balls being spaced apart bymeans of compression blocks 25 which may be solid or hollow as desired.

It will be understood that various means may be employed for varying thediameter of the outer ring 21 or equivalent annular member, and inFigure 7 an arrangement is shown in which said member comprises twoportions 43 and 44 each having a conical surface 45, while a number ofbolts, such as that indicated at 45, serve to hold the rings 43 and 44together with a shim 4! between them, thus providing a two-point bearingfor each of the compression blocks 34.

The universal joints according to the invention may be lubricated in anyconvenient manner, such as from the central lubrication system of amotor vehicle, or alternatively an outer casing may be provided which isfilled with lubricant, suitable "ducts or channels being providedwhereby such.

lubricant may be fed to the bearing surfaces. In the case of the whitemetal bearings such ducts or channels are preferably drilled after thecasting operation, while, if desired, such ducts may be formed in thedriven and/ or the driving balls,

If desired, the arrangement shown in Figures 1 Moreover, means may beprovided whereby the ball and socket joints may be arranged so thatclearance is taken up automatically and one form of such a joint isshown diagrammatically in Figure 8, in which the general form is similarto that inFigure 4. Each of the spheres 38 is accommodated between apair of seating members 48 carried in a circular housing 49 formed inthe intermediate member 50. The seating members 48 act as wedges due tothe eccentricity of the sphere 38 with the housing49, and they areinfluenced by means of a spring so that their thinner ends tend to movetogether, thus taking up all play.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theconstructions herein described and the details may be modified to suitrequirements. Thus, an outer casing,-if desired provided with slidingspherical or curved overlapping surfaces,

may be arranged to prevent the access of dirt and grit to the bearingand other surfaces of the universal joint, while in cases where thespace between the balls is occupied by bearing metal or mouldedmaterial, compression blocks may also strut for transmitting torque fromone ball on the driving member to the next adjacent ball on the drivenmember, and an outer ring formed separately from the compression membersbut in contact with the balls for preventing outward splaying movementof the arms. 7

2. A universal joint comprising driving and driven members, a pair ofarms upon each of said members, a ball on each of the arms, an outerring and a plurality of thrust members, said driving and driven membersbeing arranged in opposition,

with the corresponding balls alternately spaced in a circumferentialseries and retained against outward splaying movement by direct contactwith the outer ring, said balls being spaced circumferentially by thethrust members which are'hollowed where they coact with the balls. 1

3. A universal joint comprising a driven member, a driving member, anintermediatemember' connecting said driven and driving members, aplurality of ball and socket joints interposed with their centersdisplaced radially from the axes of the driving and driven members, totransmit torque between the intermediate driven and driving members, theball and socket joints includingball elements, and a plurality ofcompression blocks forming an operative connection between said ballelements.

4. A universal joint comprising a driven member, a driving member, anintermediate member connecting said driven and driving members, aplurality of ball and socket joints interposed with their centersdisplaced radially from the axes of the driving and driven members totransmit torque between the intermediate driven and driving members, theball and socket joints including ball elements, and a plurality ofcompression blocks forming an operative connection between said ballelements, the compression blocks being in the form of cylinders havingspherically recessed ends which bear against the surface of the balls.

5. A universal joint comprising driving and driven members, a pair ofarms upon each of. said members, a ball on each of the arms, lockingmeans securing the balls to the arms, an outer ring, and a plurality ofthrust members, the driving and driven members being arranged inopposition,

with the corresponding balls alternately spaced in a circumferentialseries and retained against outward splaying movement by the outer ring,said balls being spaced circumferentially by the thrust members andbored. eccentrically so as to permit adjustment of the balls toward andaway from the outer ring.

DENIS TABOR BROCK.

